Prepare for 17th team in the NRL

BRISBANE will have a second team in 2023 after the NRL yesterday announced a $50m surplus.

In a landmark development, NRL expansion is going ahead, with ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys informing the 16 clubs the governing body will proceed with a 17team competition.

V’landys told the clubs the code is ready to push on with a second Brisbane team to rival the Broncos in rugby league’s most significant expansionary move since the birth of the Titans in 2007.

There was robust discussion around future funding to the clubs, which were seeking an extra $1.5m, totalling $24m, plus some additional money should a 17th team be required to pay a licence fee.

V’landys made it clear the new Brisbane team will not be paying a licence fee, although he pointed out that the 16 clubs will benefit financiallly by the extra millions a 17th franchise will generate for the code.

That sentiment is underlined by News Corp exclusively revealing that the NRL has agreed to terms on a fiveyear deal with Pay TV partner Foxtel worth up to $100m to fund an expanded competition.

That cash injection will ensure the code can bankroll a 17th team without eroding financial grants to the existing clubs.

The 16 clubs were hoping for an extra $1m each as part of the ARL Commission’s expansion objectives, prompting what was described as some “grandstanding” at the meeting by at least two chief executives.

But V’landys is pressing ahead with rugby league’s first expansionary move in 14 years.

The one certainty is Queensland will have a fourth NRL team from 2023, with the Expansion Assessment Committee to meet on Friday to discuss the merits of the three bid consortia – the Firehawks, Jets and Dolphins.

It is understood the EAC will make a recommendation on the winning bid to the ARL Commission, which will rubber-stamp Brisbane’s new team early next week.

The Dolphins are the frontrunners to clinch the 17th licence, but the Firehawks and Jets are refusing to give up hope of growing the code in Brisbane’s western corridor.

Despite his side potentially being vulnerable to attack, Melbourne chairman Matt Tripp has thrown his support behind the ARL Commission, describing a second Brisbane team is a “no-brainer”.

“Absolutely there is room for a second Brisbane team,” Tripp said.

“If I wasn’t chairman of the Melbourne Storm and I was Matt Tripp the rugby league fan and someone said to me should there be a second club in Brisbane, I would say yes, 100 per cent.

“Of course those comments might be to the short-term detriment of the Storm but taking a long-term view, I don’t think it will be detrimental at all.

“Expansion will be great for the game. While the talent pool will be thin for a period, as long as the game continues to evolve and improve and stay an elite sport in this country, it will then warrant better broadcast deals, better sponsorship, all the things that can drive revenue and bring people to the game.’’